Tire-opener



' D. C. WO0DWORTH.

TIRE OPENER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1918 Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

DONALD WOODWORTH, OF AUBURN, MAINE.

TIRE-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. so, 1921.

Application filed April 5, 1918. Serial No. 226,953.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DONALD C. Woon- WORTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Auburn, in the county of Androscoggln and State of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Tire-Openers, of which the following is a,

specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tire openers. In actual practice it is found very difiicult to open and hold open tires, especially the larger sizes, to enable the re pair man to see into and operate in the inside of the tires. The present invention is designed to conveniently and quickly spread the tire and hold it open while the examination and work is being done.

In the drawing herewith accompan ing and forming a part of this application, igure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention shown in operation with the tire open, and Fig. 2 is a perspec tive view of a modified embodiment of my invention, the tire being. shown partly open.

The same reference characters indicate like parts in the several figures.

1 Referring to Fig. 1, 1 is a handle to which is pivotally attached a curved jaw member 2 terminating in a bent over jaw 3. .Pivotally attachedto the handle is a second jaw member 4, having a turned down jaw 5. These members are so disposed that when the jaws are placed on the inside of the edges of the tire, as shown in Fig. 1, and the handle is moved downwardly, it forces the jaws apart and opens the tire, as shown. When the pivot 6 of jaw member 4 passes below the plane of the pivot 7 of jaw member 2, the jaws are locked in operative position, holding the tire open until the handle is again raised. .It is specially noted that in this form of my invention none of the parts extend, across the opening in the tire which is an important feature as it renders it fitted for use in removing and inserting the inner tube.

Referring to Fig. 2, the handle 8 has two jaw members pivotally attached thereto, one 9 terminatin in a downwardly extending jaw 10 and t e other 11, terminating in a downwardly extending jaw 12. The handle between the pivots where the jaw members are attached is curved and jaw member 9'is bifurcated and spread to receive 'jaw member 11 when the handle is moved to the left to open the tire.

It is thought that the operation of the device is clearly apparent from the above description and the drawings.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described,

a handle, a jaw member pivotally attached thereto and terminating in a jaw and a second jaw member pivotally attached thereto and terminating in a jaw, the pivot points of said jaw members being spaced apart, the jaws being adapted to engage the adjacent edges of a tire, whereby the turning of the handle in one direction forces the jaws apart thereby separating the edges of the tire.

2. In a device of the character described, a handle, a jaw member pivotally attached thereto and terminating in a jaw and a second jaw member pivotally attached thereto and terminating in a jaw, the pivot points of said jaw members being spaced apart, the pivot of one jaw member adapted to be carried below the pivot of the other jaw member, whereby the jaws may be locked in open position.

3. In a device of the character described, a handle, a bow-shaped jaw member ivotally attached thereto and terminating in a jaw and a second jaw member pivotally attached thereto and terminating in a jaw, the bow-shaped jaw member being adapted to pass around the tread of the tire and engage the remote edge of the tire and the other 'jaw member being adapted to engagethe near edge of the tire, whereby neither jaw member spans the opening in the tire.

4. In a tire spreader, a member adapted to span a tire, a jaw at one end thereof, a handle pivoted to the other end of said member, a second member terminating in a jaw pivotally secured to the handle at a spaced distance from the first mentioned member; the jaws being adapted to engage the adj acent edges of a tire, whereby the turning of the handle in one direction forces the jaws apart thereby separating the edges of the tire.

5. In a tire spreader, a bow-shaped member having a jaw at one end and a handle 5 pivotally attached to the other end, a second member terminating in a jaw pivotally secured to the handle, the bow-shaped member being adapted to pass around the tread of the tire, with the jaw at one end thereof engaging one edge of the tire, the second 10 jaw engaging the other edge of the tire in a manner whereby neither member obstructs the opening in the tire.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

DONALD O. WOODWORTH. 

